Patents by Inventor Shinichi Hirata

Shinichi Hirata has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20210178254
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus provide for controlling an operating device, wherein the operating device includes: (i) a grip part to be gripped by a user; and (ii) an operation part for activation by a finger of the user gripping the grip part, where the operation part includes: (i) a movable part capable of moving from a resting position toward another position in response to a force applied by the finger of the user, (ii) a biasing element operating to urge the movable part toward the resting position, (iii) a sensor operating to measure the force applied by the finger of the user to the movable part and produce a sensing signal therefrom, and (iv) a motorized assembly operating to receive a drive signal, and in response, apply an amount of force to the movable part in opposition to the force applied by the finger of the user, and where the drive signal is a variable dependent on variations in the sensing signal, such that the amount of force applied to the movable part in opposition to the force applied by the fin
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2021
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Applicant: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Yusuke Nakagawa, Ikuo Yamano, Shinichi Hirata, Yuichi Machida, Yoichi Nishimaki
  • Publication number: 20210116998
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus estimates a position of interest and/or a direction of interest in which a user viewing a video displayed by a display apparatus is potentially interested, the position of interest and the direction of interest being other than a position to which a line of sight of the user is directed, and changes content of the video to be displayed by the display apparatus according to a result of the estimation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2018
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Applicant: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Hidehiko Ogasawara, Yoichi Nishimaki, Shinichi Hirata
  • Patent number: 10967253
    Abstract: An operating device includes a movable part capable of moving between a first position and a second position, with the movable part being capable of operation by the finger of the user gripping the operating device. The operating device includes a regulating part that regulates a range in which the movable part can move, and a control part that determines the amount of regulation in which the movable part can move and provides the regulating part with an instruction to regulate the range in which the movable part can move according to the amount of regulation which has been determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Yusuke Nakagawa, Ikuo Yamano, Shinichi Hirata, Yuichi Machida, Yoichi Nishimaki
  • Patent number: 10942940
    Abstract: The present invention provides an information processing device capable of properly controlling a smell presentation device by matching a using state. The information processing device acquires information on the using state of the smell presentation device that presents a smell to a user, and causes the smell presentation device to present a smell in a mode determined in accordance with the acquired information on the using state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT INC.
    Inventors: Shinichi Hirata, Yoichi Nishimaki, Hiroshi Osawa, Kyoko Furumura, Takeshi Yamagishi
  • Publication number: 20210060422
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus provide for a control unit; and an operating device including: (i) operation button to be activated by touch of a user, (ii) a first vibration mechanism for vibrating the operation button, and (iii) a second vibration mechanism for vibrating a main body of the operating device, where the control unit controls the first vibration mechanism and the second vibration mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Applicant: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Ikuo Yamano, Yusuke Nakagawa, Shinichi Hirata, Yuichi Machida, Yoichi Nishimaki
  • Patent number: 10905788
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a scent-emanating apparatus including a discharging mechanism which permits a scent substance perceivable by a user together with a marker substance for detection to be discharged outwards, and a sensor to detect the marker substance discharged from the discharging mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT INC.
    Inventors: Yoichi Nishimaki, Shinichi Hirata, Yuichi Machida, Kazuo Miura
  • Patent number: 10881953
    Abstract: A control system includes a console device having an operating button to be operated by a user and a vibrating mechanism for vibrating the operating button, and a control device for controlling vibrations produced by the vibrating mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Ikuo Yamano, Yusuke Nakagawa, Shinichi Hirata, Yuichi Machida, Yoichi Nishimaki
  • Patent number: 10850192
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a device with one of the left side and the right side of the device fixed as pressed against the palm of a user. The device includes a button that can be depressed within a predetermined movable range and a sense-of-force presentation block for presenting a sensor of force against button depression within a range in which any of the fingers of the user is reachable, the input of a sense-of-force presentation start position in the predetermined movable range being received, a button depressing amount being acquired, and, when the sense-of-force presentation start position is reached, instructing the sense-of-force presentation block to present a sense force against the depressing of the button.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Yuichi Machida, Kunihito Sawai, Shinichi Hirata, Yoshihisa Takahashi, Yoichi Nishimaki, Yasushi Okumura, Norihiro Nagai
  • Publication number: 20200353352
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus provide for causing a device to present a sense of force against depressing of a button in response to receiving an input initiated by the user of a sense-of-force presentation start position in said predetermined movable range, and to store the sense-of-force presentation start position in a memory in response to the input initiated by the user; acquiring a depress amount of said button; receiving the sense-of-force presentation start position from the memory; and instructing the presentation of the sense of force against depressing of said button when said depress amount reaches said sense-of-force presentation start position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2020
    Publication date: November 12, 2020
    Applicant: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Yuichi Machida, Kunihito Sawai, Shinichi Hirata, Yoshihisa Takahashi, Yoichi Nishimaki, Yasushi Okumura, Norihiro Nagai
  • Patent number: 10809825
    Abstract: A control apparatus is used for a device that is set up assuming that the device is worn on a user's left hand or right hand, acquires given information from the device, and determines whether the device is to be worn on the user's left hand or right hand on the basis of the given information acquired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Shinichi Hirata, Yoshihisa Takahashi, Yoichi Nishimaki, Yuichi Machida, Kunihito Sawai, Yasushi Okumura, Norihiro Nagai
  • Patent number: 10773160
    Abstract: A control apparatus for a device with one of the left side and the right side of the device fixed as pressed against the palm of a user. The device includes a button that can be depressed within a predetermined movable range and a sense-of-force presentation block for presenting a sensor of force against button depression within a range in which any of the fingers of the user is reachable, the input of a sense-of-force presentation start position in the predetermined movable range being received, a button depressing amount being acquired, and, when the sense-of-force presentation start position is reached, instructing the sense-of-force presentation block to present a sense force against the depressing of the button.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Yuichi Machida, Kunihito Sawai, Shinichi Hirata, Yoshihisa Takahashi, Yoichi Nishimaki, Yasushi Okumura, Norihiro Nagai
  • Publication number: 20200246692
    Abstract: A controller device which is connected to an information processing apparatus and is to be worn on a user's hand. The controller device includes a device body to be gripped by the user, in which a sensor outputting a sensor output based on a change in a shape of a base part of the finger is disposed on the device body in a position so as to come into contact with the bases of at least some fingers of the user when the user grips the device body. The controller device receives information output from the sensor and related to the change in the shape of the base parts of the fingers of the user, and sends out the information to the connected information processing apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Applicant: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Yusuke Nakagawa, Yoichi Nishimaki, Yasushi Okumura, Shinichi Hirata, Takuya Kuji
  • Patent number: 10709973
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a fragrance presentation device which prevents an unintended smell from being presented. A fragrance presentation device for use with a display device which can be mounted on the head of a user includes a fragrance presentation module disposed in a fragrance presentation position in the vicinity of the nostrils of a person on which the display device is mounted, a fragrance holder having a fragrance container for holding a fragrance therein, the fragrance holder placing the fragrance container in a position spaced from the fragrance presentation position at least while the fragrance is not presented, and delivering the fragrance out of the fragrance container when the fragrance in the fragrance container is presented, and a fragrance conductor for conducting the fragrance which has been delivered out of the fragrance holder to the fragrance presentation module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Osawa, Shinichi Hirata, Yoichi Nishimaki
  • Patent number: 10532278
    Abstract: Provided is an information processing device to be connected to an odor presentation device that presents an odor to a user. The information processing device acquires spatial odor information indicative of an odor in a reproduction target space, and instructs, by using the acquired spatial odor information, the odor presentation device to present to the user an odor assumably perceivable in the reproduction target space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT INC.
    Inventors: Yoichi Nishimaki, Shinichi Hirata, Yuichi Machida
  • Patent number: 10534432
    Abstract: A control apparatus is connected to a device for detecting a user's hand motion, controls a motion of a virtual character, and decides, in accordance with a detection result of hand motion by the device, whether the detected motion is a first instruction action or a second instruction action. The first instruction action achieves a match between a hand motion of the character and the user's hand motion. The second instruction action instructs an action different from the user's hand motion. When it is decided, as a result of the decision, that the detected user's hand motion is the first instruction action, the control apparatus achieves a match between the character's hand motion and the detected user's hand motion. When it is decided that the detected user's hand motion is the second instruction action, the control apparatus causes the character to perform an action different from the hand motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Yasushi Okumura, Shinichi Hirata, Yoshihisa Takahashi, Yoichi Nishimaki, Norihiro Nagai, Kunihito Sawai, Yuichi Machida
  • Patent number: 10525349
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus that can present smell to a user in an appropriate mode utilizing a smell presentation device is provided. The information processing apparatus acquires content information relating to the substance of a content that includes at least one of video and audio to be presented to the user, and controls the smell presentation device to present smell in a mode according to the acquired content information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Yoichi Nishimaki, Shinichi Hirata, Hiroshi Osawa
  • Patent number: 10510189
    Abstract: In an information processing system 1, an information processing apparatus 10 recognizes, when a user moves real bodies 120a and 120b arranged on a play field 19, the movement on the basis of, for example, an image taken by a camera 122 taking an image of the movement to interlock objects of corresponding characters 202a and 202b displayed on a display apparatus 16. In addition, when the user moves the characters 202a and 202b through an input apparatus 14, the information processing apparatus 10 transmits a control signal to the corresponding real bodies 120a and 120b to perform interlocking. When a situation in which interlocking between the real bodies 120a and 120b and the characters 202a and 202b is difficult occurs, an appropriate scenario is selected from the scenarios prepared in advance and realized, thereby maintaining the consistency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT INC.
    Inventors: Naoki Numaguchi, Keiji Togawa, Hiroshi Osawa, Takeshi Yamagishi, Shinichi Hirata
  • Patent number: 10471343
    Abstract: A block set assembled by a user and an information processing device communicate with each other. The information processing device thereby obtains information on the structure of the block set. In addition, an object of a crane truck corresponding to the block set is displayed on a display device. Correspondences between joints and wheels and correspondences between movements are set. Thereby, when the block set is moved, the movement of the block set is reflected in the object on display. When the object is moved, the movement of the object is reflected in the block set by transmitting a control signal from the information processing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Shinichi Hirata, Naoki Numaguchi, Takeshi Yamagishi, Hiroshi Osawa, Keiji Togawa
  • Patent number: 10465113
    Abstract: The present invention is a liquid crystal composition having negative dielectric anisotropy containing one or two or more of compounds represented by General Formula (i), and is also a liquid crystal display element using the liquid crystal composition. The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal composition with a large refractive index anisotropy (?n), a low rotational viscosity (?1), a large elastic constant (K33), a high voltage holding ratio (VHR), and which has a negative dielectric anisotropy (??), and a liquid crystal display element which, when using the liquid crystal composition, has a high response speed with excellent display quality in which display defects such as drop marks, burn-in, and display unevenness are absent or suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: DIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Go Sudo, Shinichi Hirata
  • Publication number: 20190308097
    Abstract: A control system includes a console device having an operating button to be operated by a user and a vibrating mechanism for vibrating the operating button, and a control device for controlling vibrations produced by the vibrating mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Applicant: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Ikuo Yamano, Yusuke Nakagawa, Shinichi Hirata, Yuichi Machida, Yoichi Nishimaki